Silsden 3 Fleetwood Town 7

SILSDEN began their pre-season campaign with a high-scoring defeat at home to League One Fleetwood Town's academy side.

Despite the home side’s best efforts throughout, goals from Conor Scott, Kieran Dunbar, Harvey Hodd, Louis Myers, Jordan Hancox and an Ashley Hunter double gave a Fleetwood development outfit a comfortable victory in front of a 312 crowd.

Back in 2004-05 just one division separated these two clubs, Fleetwood earning promotion from the North West Counties top flight at the same time as the Cobbydalers were earning the right to play in it.

Silsden have remained their since while Town produced a meteoric rise into the Football League.

The visitors nearly took an early lead when Eddie-Louis Dsane’s teasing cross rolled across the face of goal but couldn’t be turned home by strike partner Hunter.

Hunter came close once more just two minutes later when his effort from ten yards skimmed the crossbar after Dsane took advantage of Jack Brooks’ missed clearance.

The Cobbydalers came close themselves but former Leeds’ trainee Lawrence Dunne’s effort narrowly trickled past the far post.

The Cod Army finally made the breakthrough however in the 20th minute when defensive midfielder Smith took hold of the ball from 25 yards out and smashed the ball past Daniel Thorpe.

Kevin Ryan nearly levelled ten minutes before the interval but his half-volley beat the far post as well as the Town keeper.

Just before half-time, Thorpe was forced into a wonderful save as he got his fingertips to a wicked curling effort from Gary Lavery.

Fleetwood doubled their lead in the final minute of the half when Joe Mitchell’s poor pass was cut out by Hunter before he finally got the goal he had been craving.

Silsden halved the deficit when Andrew Smith slipped from Scott’s pass, allowing Craig Nicholls to race 20 yards and round Taylor to score.

It wasn't long until Barry Nicholson’s side restored their two-goal advantage however as Lavery won the ball back near to halfway and made a run to the area before squaring to Dunbar to tap in.

Hodd scored Fleetwood’s fourth as he coolly slotted home on the rebound after sub keeper Kieron Turner had denied Hunter.

Hunter grabbed a second from the next Town attack as he finished off Louis Myers’ brilliant solo run into the area.

Despite being competitive for the majority, Silsden conceded a sixth when Hunter turned provider, his assist allowing Myers to dink the ball over Turner.

The home side scored two more consolation efforts in the space of three minutes through substitute Chris Wademan. First, he put the ball home from the edge of the area after cutting out Matthew Williams’ clearance and then he nicked the ball off the toes of keeper Taylor to score into an empty goal.

Hancox wrapped it up for Fleetwood with the final goal of this high-scoring affair as he tapped in a wicked cross from trialist left back Dixon.